KUALA KANGSAR: The Education Ministry has given its full backing to the police in nabbing students found to be involved in criminal activities.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the ministry would neither negotiate nor compromise on the matter, adding that police are allowed to make an arrest if any student is found guilty.
The minister's remarks came after Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar today revealed on his Twitter account today that police have identified the involvement of students in Geng 24.
A total of 18 people including 15 students were arrested in Klang today, with police expecting to make more arrests.
The students were from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Andalas, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Raja Mahadi, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Shahbandar and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Kampung Jawa.
"There is no point in negotiating since the criminal elements are there. This shows that the students actually have no desire to go to school... they just want to play truant and be involved in criminal activities," he said.
Mahdzir was speaking to reporters after launching the Education Excellence Convention 2.0, Kuala Kangsar Parliamentary division, at Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah (USAS) here today.
Geng 24 was allegedly previously headed by a 32-year-old businessman, nicknamed ‘Datuk M’.
The man was shot by his own bodyguard in December last year in Penang.
The bodyguard, Ja'afar Halid, 38, was subsequently charged with the murder of three persons, attempted murder of five others and voluntarily causing hurt to another individual.